My Letter to the President of the United States
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April 20, 2001 Warren, Michigan President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr President; I am writing in regards to CW2 Otha Lee Perry (Viet Nam Wall Memorial Panel 02W - - Line 88) who was lost on 14 December 1971 in South Viet Nam, near Da Nang. As of 1973, he was listed as Killed, Body Not Recovered along with 5 others on a U21A aircraft. It is clear that everyone ditched the aircraft, however, there is NO tangible evidence that anyone died. This must be torture to their families after almost 30 years of not actually knowing for certain. It is hoped by myself and others that CWO Perry and all the POW-MIA-KIA's (over 1990 still officially listed) did in fact perish. If they didn't, what, in God's name, could they be thinking of the United States of America now? Further, it really pains me that well over 600 personnel are listed as "No Further Pursuit" by the PMSEA, Department of Defense. If it had been me instead of CWO Perry, I would hope that I would never become a "No Further Pursuit" listee. I know that your tenure in office has just started, however, I would like to know what your policy is concerning CWO Perry and ALL the POW-MIA-KIA's missing from the Viet Nam War era. Surely, we as Americans still have enough humanity in our hearts to vigorously and actively pursue the return of ALL our POW-MIA-KIA's. We want them ALL home NOW. Thank you for your time. Earl Taylor |
The DPOW/MPO response for President Bush
My Letter to Michigan Senator Carl Levin
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April 26, 2001 Warren, Michigan Senator Carl Levin SR-269, Russell Senate Office Building U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Levin; I am writing in regards to CWO Otha Lee Perry (Viet Nam Wall Memorial Panel 02W - - Line 88 who was lost on 14 December 1971 in South Viet Nam, near Da Nang while flying a U21A aircraft. It may have been officially listed as a routine administrative mission; however, the results were far from routine. It is hoped by myself and others that CWO Perry and all the POW-MIA's (well over 1900 still officially listed) did in fact perish, although there is NO tangible proof. If they didn't, what, in God's name, could they be thinking of the United States of America now? I believe we Americans need to stand up and demand that "Our Government" vigorously add a non-negotiable stipulation as a condition of any "normalization" of diplomatic or trade relations with Viet Nam. Life for most Americans and our government may be "Business-as-Usual" but not to our Missing In Action nor their families and loved ones. Many have anguished with their loss for years through several administrations and their lives have not been normalized. Isn't it time to quit being Mister Nice-Guy and start playing hardball? Isn't it well past time that "Our Government" makes the POW-MIA issues of the Viet Nam war a priority? The Viet Nam War may only be a memory to many Senators and Representatives, but not to me nor the many families who await the return of their lost ones, dead or alive. If I seem angry or upset, it's because I am and will remain angry till they're ALL returned home to America. I would like to know exactly what your personal plans are concerning CWO Perry and ALL the POW-MIA-KIA's missing from the Viet Nam War era. Surely, we as Americans still have enough humanity in our hearts to vigorously and actively pursue the return of all our POW-MIA-KIA's. We want them ALL home NOW. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Earl Taylor |
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The following Press Release, by President Bush is placed here for your judgement that the U.S. Government is actually pursuing the POW-MIA-KIA issues in the same manner as previous administrations, or taking a different approach. "You" be the Judge ..... is this something "New" or the same "Old" story. White House Memorandum to the Secretary of State ... WASHINGTON, May 11, 2001 (U.S. Newswire via COMTEX) -- The following was released today by the White House: Presidential Determination No. 2001-15 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE SUBJECT: Cooperation by Vietnam in Accounting for United States Prisoners of War and Missing in Action As provided under section 610 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary and Other Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, as contained in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2001, Public Law 106-553, I hereby determine, based on all information available to the United States Government, that the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is fully cooperating in good faith with the United States in the following four areas related to achieving the fullest possible accounting for Americans unaccounted for as a result of the Vietnam War: 1) resolving discrepancy cases, live sightings, and field activities; 2) recovering and repatriating American remains; 3) accelerating efforts to provide documents that will help lead to the fullest possible accounting of POW/MIAs; and, 4) providing further assistance in implementing trilateral investigations with Laos. I further determine that the appropriate laboratories associated with POW/MIA accounting are thoroughly analyzing remains, material, and other information and fulfilling their responsibilities as set forth in subsection (B) of section 610, and information pertaining to this accounting is being made available to immediate family members in compliance with 50 U.S.C. 435 note. I have been advised and believe that section 610 is unconstitutional because it purports to use a condition on appropriations as a means to direct my execution of responsibilities that the Constitution commits exclusively to the President. I am providing this determination as a matter of comity, while reserving the position that the condition enacted in section 610 is unconstitutional. In making this determination, I have taken into account all information available to the United States Government as reported to me, the full range of ongoing accounting activities in Vietnam, including joint and unilateral Vietnamese efforts, and the concrete results we have attained as a result. Finally, in making this determination, I wish to reaffirm my continuing personal commitment to the entire POW/MIA community, especially to the immediate families, relatives, friends, and supporters of these brave individuals, and to reconfirm that the central, guiding principle of my Vietnam policy is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of our prisoners of war and missing in action. You are authorized and directed to report this determination to the appropriate committees of the Congress and to publish it in the Federal Register. GEORGE W. BUSH CONTACT: White House Press Office, 202-456-258 05/11/2001 17:55 |